Improvement in corn-cutters



H. VY. CORBETT.

-Corn Harvester.

Patented Dec. 13, 1870.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

HENRY V. OORBETT, OF ALLENDALE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE W. AMIGH, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CO/RN-CUTTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 110,014. dated December 13, 1870.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY V. ConBETT, of Allendale, in the county of Ottawa and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Corn-Cutter; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, reference Vbein g had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification.

Figure l is a perspective view of the corncutter. and Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the cutter applied to the foot of the operator.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawing.-

My invention has for its object to provide a device for cutting the standing` stalks of Indian corn, which shall be applied to the foot of the operator, in order to leave both his hands free for handling the stalks.

The invention consists in a cutting knife or blade applied to the foot of the operator, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

In the accompanying drawing, A is a segmental knife or blade, sharpened upon its upper concave edge, B. O O are straps of metal, secured by any suitable means to the lower edge of the knife, and passing under the foot of the operator, one near the toe and the other under the instep, resting against the heel.

The toe-strap extends over the top of the foot, and its two ends are slotted for the passage of a' leather strap or cord, D, by which the metal strap is securely fastened in place.

The metallic heel-strap O extends to the outside of the foot, and its free end is slotted for the passage of a leather strap or cord, D', which is first passed over the instep, thence around the strap O under the cutting-knife, and its two ends secured firmly in place around the ankle of the wearer, as shown in-Fig. 2. The knife is by these means secured to the inside of the foot, parallel thereto, with its sharpened edge uppermost. Fig. 2 shows the position of the knife as applied to the right foot. The straps may be arranged for attaching the knife to the left foot, if desired.

The operation is as follows: The tops of a hill of corn-stalks are gathered by theoperator in both hands, and by a slight kick or forward movement of the foot the edge of the knife is brought against the stalks and severs them at their base.

By this method of operating a corn-cutter both hands of the operator are left free to gather a larger quantity of stalks than can be gathered by the method ordinarily employed, where the stalks are grasped by one hand and out by an instrument in the other.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A knife for cutting corn-stalks adapted to be applied to and operated by the foot, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

HENRY V. CORBETT.

Vitnesses:

ADELIA H. INGRAHAM, (i. W. INGRAEAM. 

